A school in Thailand where a student went on a deadly shooting rampage three weeks ago reopened on Tuesday 1st September amid heightened security, with police deployed and bag checks carried out.
The 14-year-old student killed seven people, including himself, at Debsirin Nonthaburi School on the outskirts of Bangkok on 7th August, after shooting his grandparents dead at their home. The incident was Thailand’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly four years and has renewed debate over gun control in the country.
Aside from the gunman, one student and five members of staff were killed in the attack.
At the school entrance on Tuesday, a digital screen displayed the names and images of those who died, while white ribbons were tied to the perimeter fence in their memory. Civil defence volunteers wearing berets and camouflage uniforms were stationed around the grounds as students queued for bag checks, with some carrying their personal belongings in transparent plastic bags.
Police officers and civil defence volunteers are expected to remain stationed in and around the school premises for the foreseeable future.
Parents arriving at the school gates expressed mixed emotions about the return to classes.
“On one hand, I feel confident the school will put strict and thorough safety measures in place,” said Thongbai Muenjit, whose 15-year-old daughter attends the school. “But I’m worried about my child’s mental state and how she will feel going back to the building where the shooting happened,” he said.
Parent Natchuda Petpuangpan said she supported her 12-year-old daughter returning to class. “I don’t think these kinds of incidents happen every day. It could have happened anywhere,” she said.
Student Adisorn Deesa, 15, said he was happy to return and see his friends. “With online classes, I couldn’t understand the lessons as well as I do at school, and I think my friends are happy to be back too,” he said.
Since the incident, the school’s staff have received support from mental health experts from the health ministry to help with psychological recovery and trauma. The school is also providing mental health support to students, while education and public health authorities have pledged to keep mental health professionals available on site for those experiencing anxiety or trauma as regular lessons resume in the coming weeks.
Days after the shooting, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul suspended the issuance of firearm purchase permits and said existing licences would be reviewed.
Thailand had an estimated 10.3 million firearms in civilian possession, giving it the second-highest rate in Asia, according to a 2017 estimate by the Small Arms Survey.
Last month, another school in Bangkok held a drill to prepare students for active-shooter incidents.
The reopening of Debsirin Nonthaburi School comes as educational institutions across Thailand review their safety protocols and emergency preparedness strategies. Authorities are working to balance stronger physical security with psychological support for children, teachers, and families affected by the shooting.
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